Lancaster Commencement Ceremony Guide

Schedule

• 5 p.m.  Graduate check-in begins. Graduates are expected to be at Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square/Lancaster County Convention Center. Upon arrival, graduates will check in and pick up your graduate name card. Card pick-up lines will be organized alphabetically by last name.
• 5 p.m. Doors open for guests and seating begins.
• 5:40 p.m. Graduates will begin to line up to process, and the processional will begin shortly.
• 6:05 p.m. Doors close and all guests must be seated. Any guests arriving after 6:05 p.m. will be asked to wait in the concourse until the processional is complete and graduates are seated.
• 6:10 p.m. Processional begins
• 6:30 p.m. Ceremony begins.
  
  The Commencement ceremony is expected to last no longer than two hours.

All our Saint Joseph’s families have made significant investments to arrive at this day and expect the occasion will be one of dignity, meaning and significance. To ensure a positive Commencement experience for all graduates and their families, we ask that you please observe the following:

Keep track of your Graduate Name Card. 
Each graduate will receive a Graduate Name Card when they check in with their name on it. It will be scanned and handed to the announcer as you cross the stage. Do not alter, fold or tear your card, as failure to produce a legible Graduate Name Card will result in your name not being announced.

Dress accordingly.
Recommended attire for ladies includes a dress, skirt/top combination or a nice pantsuit. Recommended attire for men includes a dress shirt, tie and dress pants. Be mindful of your footwear, as you will need to be able to walk on the carpet across the stage to obtain your  scroll. Flip-flops and athletic shoes are not permitted. Students will gather before the ceremony for the processional. At this gathering point, there will NOT be a secure area to leave personal belongings (i.e., purses, coats, bags, etc.). Please consider leaving these items with one of your guests prior to the ceremony.

All graduates are expected to remain for the entire length of the ceremony.

Caps and gowns.
Make sure you have all of your regalia. Regalia will not be available for you at the venue, so please check to make sure you have everything you need before arriving.

Graduates are to wear their regalia to the Commencement ceremony. For most students, this includes your gown, cap and tassel. Students receiving bachelor’s, masters and doctoral degrees should also have a hood. Please press/steam your gown once you remove it from the packaging. Plan to arrive dressed in your regalia with your cap securely fastened. All gowns should be zipped to the neck as you begin processing. If you have a hood, hoods should be draped over the left arm as graduates process into the ceremony. Students with a hood will be invited to put their hood on as part of the ceremony. 

Tassel check.
Make sure your tassel is attached to your cap before you leave. It should be on the right side of the cap. You will be invited to move the tassel to the left as part of the ceremony.

Arrive on time.
Graduates should report directly to the Lancaster Marriott no later than 5 p.m. You must check in and pick up your graduate name card. The processional and ceremony will begin promptly at 6:10 p.m. Late arrivals may not be admitted to the event if you are not lined up for the procession. Learn more about what to expect at the ceremony here.

Guest Tickets & Arrival Information
All guests attending the ceremony are required to present a ticket for entry. Tickets can be given as a printed copy or presented on a mobile device. Be sure you have shared your graduation tickets with your family before the event. Small children (4 and under), who will be sitting on an adult's lap, do not require a ticket.

Please note that doors close at 6:05 p.m. and all guests must be seated. Any guests arriving after 6:05 p.m. will be asked to wait in the concourse until the processional is complete and graduates are seated. 

Guest Expectations
We prohibit bringing in any, but not limited to, of the following items:

• Noisemakers
• Laser pointers
• Blow horns
• Balloons
• Large signs
• Any other distracting noise-making device that could interfere with the integrity of the event.
  Please note, strollers may be limited based on space and seating. Umbrella strollers are recommended.

Additionally, large bags should not be brought into the venue (unless it is a diaper bag or needed for a medical reason). Coolers, glass beverage containers, weapons of any kind, large signs that could block the view of others, etc., should be left in the guests' car.

Those who try to bring these items in will be asked to return them to their car. Graduates have all worked hard to achieve this accomplishment, and we want to make sure that every student's guests are able to see their graduate walk across the stage and hear their name as it is called.

Lastly, we ask that guests and graduates refrain from standing on chairs or rushing the stage area to try to get a picture; we have hired professional photographers for that purpose. 

Accessibility
Seating will be available for those guests requiring special accommodations. Seating will be available for those guests requiring special accommodations. If you or your guests are in need of handicapped seating, please fill out this form.

For a complete list of garages and lots in the area, please visit the Lancaster Parking Authority website. The closest parking garage to the event location is Penn Square Garage (25-51 East Vine Street), Steinman Park Garage (35 S Prince Street), Mifflin Street Lot (146 East Mifflin Street), E. King Street Garage (150 East King Street) or Prince Street Garage (111 N. Prince Street). On-street parking is also available and is monitored by the Lancaster Parking Authority. For more information, visit their website here, which lists rates, operating hours and acceptable payments. Please note that parking in Lancaster City does fill up quickly, so make sure to allow yourself enough time to find a place to park.